CRIME: Socialite, Cecilia Agu Sent To Prison Over ₦‎275 Million Internet Scam.

 Ms. Cecilia May Agu, a sex educator and therapist with an office in Abuja, was charged on Wednesday by the Nigerian Police with conducting an alleged N275 million online fraud.

Cecilia, 40, was brought before Justice Daniel Osiagor's court on five counts that included allegations of conspiracy, forgery, fraud, and gaining property via false pretenses.

The defendant and other suspects committed the crime on February 20, 2023 at No. 28b, Babatunde Ajose Street, off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State, according to Police Prosecutor Samuel Eredia.

Eredia claimed that Cecilia robbed a certain Babatunde Oyebode of N275 million by sending an electronic message and falsely suggesting that she would assist in authenticating, verifying, and validating his Instagram page with A-listers and other clients, something she refrained from doing.

The prosecution claimed the alleged offense violated Sections 1(a)(b)(2) and Section 11(1) and (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Acts 2006, as well as Sections 27(a)(b), 13 and 14(1), (2) and (3) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Acts, 2015.

She did, however, enter a plea of not guilty to the accusation.

The prosecutor asked the court to put Cecilia in a Correctional Facility after she entered a not guilty plea.

However, Elvis E. Asia, the defendant's attorney, informed the court that he would ask for bail.

Asia said before the court that he was unaware that his client would be arraigned on Wednesday since he only learned about the charges that morning.

Asia went on to say that his client had been held by the police for more than a month and that Justice Abimbola Awogboro had earlier ordered her release as a result of a fundamental human rights case that was brought before the court. However, the police had disregarded the court's ruling, according to Asia.

He claimed that Cecilia was detained on May 5 and that the police have failed to free the mother of four even though Justice Awogboro had granted her bail.

As a result, the defendant was granted bail in the amount of N10 million with two sureties in the same amount by Justice Daniel Osiagor.

One of the sureties, according to him, must be employed and have a National Identification Number on their identity card.

The defendant was also required by the Court to bring three current passport photos and her foreign passport to court.

According to him, the second surety needed to have a landed property, an identity card, and a national identification number.

As a result, the judge mandated that the defendant be kept in custody until she can fully comply with her bail requirements.

Trial in the case was postponed until October 18.